Akim Aliu releases statement after Bill Peters is hired in the KHL.

Earlier this week we learned that former National Hockey League head coach Bill Peters would quickly be back behind the bench, but this time he would not be coaching a team in the NHL. No instead the disgraced NHL head coach would be moving across the world to join the ranks of the Kontinental Hockey League after signing a new deal with KHL team Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. 

No doubt it was a controversial hire by the Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg organization but no doubt it was a move made with the realization that they were unlikely to find a coach as talented as Peters available to them on the open market anytime soon. Additionally there have been numerous reports suggesting that Peters came highly recommended by former National Hockey League star forward Pavel Datsyuk, a player currently playing for the aforementioned Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. Not only is Datsyuk currently playing for the team but his contract is set to expire in very short order and it seems much more likely that he would be willing to sign a new deal after the time acquires the coach he recommended. 

Now however as news of Peters' hiring makes its way to North America more and more people are reacting to the quick turnaround for a head coach that was terminated over his use of racial slurs just a few short months ago. One of the people reacting to the news was none other than the man who exposed Peters past behavior, former NHL player Akim Aliu, and he gave what I felt was a genuinely surprising response. I would have expected Aliu to have been bitter given the fact that he felt Peters had a drastic impact on his NHL career, but the former NHL player instead took the high road and expressed his belief in second chances. 

From Aliu:

Over the last 24 hours I’ve received a lot of requests to comment on the news of Bill Peters being hired by a KHL Team. I thought this would be the best way to share my thoughts..

Hockey is for all. I believe in second chances for everyone, that we can all find forgiveness in our heart, and that real, positive change is coming if we continue to push forward together. I don;'t resent a man for finding work, but I will fight to make sure those same oppurtunities are available to everyone, on and off the ice, regardless of race or ethnicity. I'm also patiently looking forward to the outcome of the NHL's investigation. Only with the past behind us can we focus on the future. That means bringing hockey to the underprivileged youth in order to make the game more diverse, affordable and accessible to all regardless of race, gender and economic background.

It is a pretty classy response from Aliu who would in theory have plenty of motivation to bury Peters and the decision to hire him so quickly after he was let go by the Calgary Flames. I think most people will agree however that, although what Peters said was terrible, the infraction was made years and years ago and no doubt he deserves a chance to prove that he is now a better man.